In 2015 Some Dead Celebrities Made More Money Than Those Alive!

#1 The Top Money Earners Of Dead Celebrities For 2015

The top money earners seemed to have made as much as, or more than their living counterparts. All due to planning and investing. The heirs and estates made out big in 2015. Below are the celeb's who earned the most money...

Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) - $9.5 million

Steve McQueen - $9 million

James Dean - $8.5 million

Joan Rivers - $8.4 million

#2 Betty Page

You may be asking, "Who is She??" The popular pin-up gal died in 2008 at the age of 85. The iconic Playboy pinup Bettie Page has licensed her sex appeal into growing fashion lines, including lingerie and bridal wear, which account for most of her earnings. A Vegas show featuring a hologram of Page performing one of her famous striptease acts is in the works, which earned this beauty a total of $10 million in 2015.

#3 Paul Walker

Paul Walker is still going strong. Walker's untimely death and Furious 7's celluloid tribute to him propelled the movie to $1.5 billion at the box office, making it the franchise's biggest intake to date. He may have died while the movie was filming, but his estate is still thought to have profited from a slice of the movie's backend.

#4 Albert Einstein

Yes.. We said ALBERT EINSTEIN!

$11 Million earned in 2015. There are avid buyers among the inventor's cult-like nerd following: Einstein-branded merchandise includes apparel, posters and tablets designed by Israeli tech company Fourier Systems. Packed with built-in sensors, the tablets measureheart rate, humidity and temperature.

#5 John Lennon

The singer-songwriter continues to share in the Beatles' spoilsover 63 million albums sold in the U.S. alone since 1992both in terms of recorded music and publishing. Other ventures such as the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show Love! in Las Vegas, are still padding his coffin's coffers. $12 million a year isn't bad for a dead man.

#6 Marilyn Monroe

Though she died more than a half century ago, Monroe remains an international icon, part of the reason Authentic Brand Group bought the rights to her brand in 2011. In addition to a Macy's clothing label, there's also a Monroe lingerie line. All of this, and her estate owning the rights to her image and past movie royalties, she earned almost $17.5 million this year.

#7 Elizabeth Taylor

Most people under 30 had never heard of this mega actress, but over the past 12 months, the star's estate earned big bucks from her White Diamonds perfume, which in 2012 brought in $53 million in retail in the U.S. alone, according to Euromonitor International, her rights in old movies and her smart stock and real estate investments. Taylor's estate, now represented by Hollywood talent agency UTA, is at work on several licensing deals. Expect to see Taylor's name on high-end clothing and cosmetics in the near future. In 2015, she dropped to a mere $20 million in earnings.

#8 Bob Marley

Along with the 75 million albums the reggae legend has sold over the past 20 years, Marley's estate has diversified with the launch of the Marley Beverage company and House of Marley, which makes eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products. It puts him at $21 million in earnings just in 2015 alone!

#9 Charles Schulz

Snoopy would be happy! The Peanuts creator has a cut of licensing revenue from the popular comic to thank for his paycheck. Charlie Brown and Co. are now hitting the big screen in a 3-D flick, The Peanuts Movie, out in November 2015. So far the cartoonist has earned his estate over $40 million this year.

#10 Elvis Presley

The King of Rock n' Roll doesn't rule the realm of postmortem cash, but he's making more than most living stars thanks largely to Graceland ticket sales. In August he earned his 53rd Top 40 album with Elvis Presley Forever, a compilation released by the U.S. Postal Service along with a commemorative stamp. His albums ranging from the early 1960's to the 1970's are still in the top sellers list every year and his music gathers royalties worldwide.

#11 Michael Jackson

Yes, the King of Pop made a whopping $115 million dollars in 2015! His earnings go towards paying off his debts, with a small amount going to his children. The King of Pop also still earns from his music and his half of the Sony SNE/ATV catalog he owns, which includes hits by The Beatles, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift among others. A great amount comes ffrom the use of his music in the 2 Vegas shows Cirque du Soleil.